Oct
8
OBX/OMG
Filed Under Editorial | 17 Comments
Hello again friends. This time out, I have a brief comment on an issue not at all related to education, schools, or why a certain commissioner whose name rhymes with “surly” (coincidence? Nay.) needs a crème pie in his grille. Nay, my comments this evening are in an automotive aesthetic vein.
I just have to vent for a bit on the gross profusion of black and white oval stickers on motor vehicles in Wake County. You’ve been to the Outer Banks. We get it. How much cache does that really have when you live in Raleigh? It’s not like you live in Idaho or Jakarta, et cetera. I don’t know; maybe people in those places have “SPUD” and “INDO” on their cars. I doubt it. Read more
Oct
8
School Funding, A Primer: Part 2
Filed Under Education | 3 Comments
After an unintentional hiatus, I’m back with the second half of our local school funding discussion; this time with hopefully a bit more of an infusion of brevity.
Last time, we explained how funding is controlled, the dynamics between boards of education and boards of commissioners, and the fundamental issues surrounding funding priorities in Wake. As we discussed, the bulk of school funding is appropriated by the state of NC and is beyond the purview of this article (simple answer: state income tax, more or less). This time, I’d like to wrap it up by asking the question: where are the sources of the local bit of school funding? Read more
Oct
4
Photo Series: Riddick Stadium
Filed Under Photo Series, Sports | 1 Comment
N.C. State has spent a lot of money on its football facilities with the addition of the Murphy Center and the Vaughn Towers. That said, we thought it would be fun to look back at the Pack’s old stomping grounds, Riddick Stadium.
In the first picture you can see a football game being played on Riddick Field. I’m not sure what date the picture was taken, but my guess is the 1920s. The second picture was taken in 1946 during a football game between NCSU and Duke. Notice the upgrades to Riddick Stadium that were added between the first and second photos. I think they came in the 1930s in the form of permanent bleachers and a field house. Read more
Oct
4
The Pack travel to Tallahassee this weekend to take on the Florida State Seminoles and an old friend in Chuck Amato. Amato spent over 20 years on the Seminole coaching staff before taking over the Wolfpack, and he immediately returned this offseason after being relieved of his duties. I’ve said all along I truly believe that Amato was the primary reason for the renewed passion in NC State football as well as the front man for a $100 million dollar fundraising campaign to make Carter Finley what it is today. I doubt there is much ill will from many Wolfpack fans, as overall the Amato era was a positive one. Chuck is now back in his familiar role as Bobby Bowden’s right-hand man while coaching up the linebackers. I for one am glad to see that he was welcomed back to Florida State. Read more
Oct
3
What are your thoughts on the recently approved (and rejected) plans for Hillsborough Street? Discuss it in the RFP forums!
Oct
2
Photo Series: Going Up?
Filed Under Photo Series | 4 Comments
With all the new construction going up in downtown Raleigh, we thought it would be fun to look at a construction photo from Raleigh’s past. Taken between 1912-1913, this photo shows the Commercial Bank building going up on Martin Street in downtown Raleigh. The new RBC Bank building is currently under construction on the same site (although the RBC building’s footprint is quite a bit larger).
If you look at the photo closely there are some interesting observations to be made about Raleigh in the early 1900s. Share your impressions with others in the comments section, and send us your new construction photos by emailing jchavis@raleighfreepress.com.
(Photo courtesy of the Raleigh City Museum)